HOT Women Entrepreneurs In Seattle!

I knew they were out there. Like a child looking for a 4-Leaf clover, I searched for them. And low-and-behold, I found a bunch of downright humbling and absolutely inspirational women who are running angel / VC backed startups in Seattle. Companies they conceived, gestated and yes, birthed! Some of them are friends of mine, many of them I’ve never met, and many of them are running companies that I know well, but didn’t know they were either local OR women run. Cool.

Everyone got the same very simple questions. All answers are in their voice, not mine. (Except mine. I decided that I got to answer too.)

Allison NelsonCompany: The Local VineMission: The Local Vine will be the premier wine bar chain with locations in metropolitan markets for customers seeking a stylish destination to gather (or retreat) in a ‘Starbucks after dark’ environment. TLV is planned as a rollout strategy. It’s first location opened in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood during the summer of 2007Product: wine barsStage: earlyThe Raise: raised $1M to date in a combination of founder and angel investments. We are looking to raise another round right now. Additional Thoughts: “Network! Seattle is a relatively small and supportive community, so take advantage of those connections.”

Alyssa RoyseCompany: JUST CAUSE Magazine & JustCauseIt.comMission: provide a positive media platform to tell the stories of people who are making positive change in the world in order to help others do the same. Product: An online-social networking / blogging site paired with a National print magazine.Stage: Early. Online product launched and working. Preparing launch of print.The Raise: $250K +. Angels. Board members are in, friends and family, good luck with Keiretsu. Raising an additional round to close the bridge and convert to series A. Additional thoughts: “The biggest obstacle has nothing to do with chromosomes and everything to do with the classic conundrum. People love what I’m doing and want to give me money once I get it done, but I need the money to get it done. Then again, I’m breaking so many rules that my gender is the least of it. Everyone knows what a woman is, but an integrated media company that highlights Good News, WHAT’S THAT?”

Dolores GillCompany:Boen & GillMission: Provide fashion conscious men and women fresh styles and qualityProduct: fashion accessoriesStage: start upThe Raise: angels, $400kAdditional thoughts: Hard to raise money as a woman and even harder in fashion, since retail is not sexy in Seattle. Running the company is very challenging in the industry that is dominated by old giants, large monies and most of it not in Seattle.

Gail DiGulioCompany:SimplyFunMission: To promote the importance of play and create lifelong memories that enhance the quality of life for our Consultants, customers and employees.Stage: late, D RoundThe Raise:To date the company is completely privately financed , having raised over $8 million in financing. That is no small feat in this town, when you take into consideration that we are not a tech company and its ALL private money. We are just completing our Series D. We have one more round to raise in 12 months.Additional Thoughts: What is interesting about our business is that we are “in the business” of growing women CEO’s and entrepreneurs. Direct sales in 2006 was a $33B industry in the U.S.,with over 15 million independent business owners (13 million women), running their own home-based business.

Ksenia Oustiougova Company:LilipMission: Our videos enlighten, entertain, amuse and basically feed your child’s curiosity and sense of wonder. Since they’re short (averaging 5 minutes), your kids can watch them over and over in the grocery line, in the car, at the doctor’s offce, or with you on our website. Download them to your portable video devices or mobile phone, and you always have a creative and age-appropriate video at hand. We like to call it “tantrum insurance”. Product: Downloadable, non-branded original kids programming for mobile digital devices.Stage: Early, site launched and operational.Money raised: self-funded, so far. Raising bridge from angels.Additional Thoughts: Positive: Being a woman in the local tech start-up scene makes you stand out just for that simple fact. Negative: Being taken seriously is much harder, I don’t know if I should dress in shapeless garbs or look more like a guy? Overall: I find people sometimes too slow, too polite (hearing a “no” is better and saves time to both of us as opposed to “it’s an interesting idea, keep me posted”). I don’t know if both of these things are typical for Seattle, or maybe I am too fast and too direct sometimes? On the other hand, people here are very willing to help out and spend extra time with you. We need more girls!!!!

Patty GrossmanCompany: O Ecotextiles, Inc. Mission: to change the way textiles are produce in the world – to make them safer for both humans and the earth!Product: textiles by the yard for drapery, upholstery and top of the bedStage: Just beginning to sellThe Raise: $400,000 from friends, family and suppliers; $750,000 from 7 angels. VC groups? No – they’re too chicken shitAdditional Thoughts: Men still don’t think women have what it takes – we still have a long, long way to go.

Sam Reich-DagnenCompany:Braincandy
Mission: Our vision is to establish Braincandy as the premiere kids lifestyle brand in the emerging category of early learning, entertainment for infants and toddlers.Product: Children’s early-learning lifestyle brand creating DVDs, music CDs, puppets, toys and apparel.Stage: Early, Product in marketThe Raise: We raised capital mainly from angel investors as well as one strategic investment from our distributor Warner Music Group. We’ve raised a total of $1.1M in a convertible debt round.Additional thoughts: Braincandy raised most of our capital outside of Seattle but that was mainly due to the type of business we are rather than my being a woman CEO. In some cases, I do believe being a woman CEO is helpful in fundraising. Investors have an easier time seeing the passion and emotional quotient behind the business rather than just turning to the financial projections. Because angel investing in some ways is making a bit both emotionally and financially, I do think it can work in a woman’s favor. In Braincandy’s case, we have a double-whammy. Instead of seeing us as a business with a woman CEO, they see it as a “family” business because I founded the company with my husband. This scenario seems to take the focus off of the female CEO and puts emphasis on the risk associated in being a husband and wife business. However, I continue to believe that finding investors who understand your particular business and category are the smart money–and whether you are a woman or not, the smart money always follows the best opportunity. (or at least that’s what you hope.)

Sasha MuirCompany:butter LONDON Mission: (it’s long but good!)
We believe in Rock and Roll, Great Britain and Fashion. Nails should be natural, no falsies here. We believe in Gorgeous. Pretty. Sexy. And Fabulous. We believe in Colour, not Carcinogens. In no appointments, no high charges, no bother. We believe in the absolute and irrefutable. Power of the butter Girls and Blokes. And in being fast, fun, and
Right around the corner. BRILLIANTLY BUTTER, TOTALLY LONDONProduct: High quality, affordable, fast, and hygienic manicures in beautiful British stores located in airports across the country. We also retail our own brand of premium, non-toxic nail care products.Stage: EarlyThe Raise: Angels in Seattle communityAdditional thoughts: You are in the right community!

Sharelle KlausCompany:DRY Soda Co. Mission: DRY Soda Co. is the modern alternative in refreshment, offering a line of sparkling beverages with all-natural flavors and a less sweet profile. With 50-70 calories per bottle, DRY Soda is an ideal caffeine-free accompaniment to a fine meal or simple refreshment. DRY is available nationally in natural food retailers and in fine restaurants and hotels in the Western United States.Product: DRY Soda’s four culinary-inspired flavors: kumquat, lavender, lemongrass and rhubarb.Stage: Launched in August of 2005. Currently distributed west of the Rockies and nationally through Wild Oats / Whole Foods.The Raise: $5.5 million in funding, raised through two rounds of angel investment.Additional Thoughts: It has not been too challenging as a woman to raise money here in Seattle. There are several angel groups that fund female led organizations. And I was the former president of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, so I was able to leverage those connections when looking for investors. However being a woman in the beverage business– that is a whole other story…

Tera Eerkes, Ph.D.Company: iGenix, Inc.Mission: The QTrait team believes that everyone should have the ability to access their own genetic potential, understand it, and use it to better their lives. At the same time, we insist that people need to have complete control of their genetic privacy. QTrait is bringing clarity, security and relevance to the complex field of personal genetic testing to provide the best possible genetic testing service available.Product: Genetic testing is not just for scary diseases or TV detectives. QTrait has over 45 genetic tests that are designed to be informative, useful and affordable, all available online at QTrait.com. We have tests for athletes, families, mothers-to-be, baby boomers and more. You learn, shop and order online. We send you a “spit-kit” in the mail. When you mail it back to us, we process your results and post them to your secure account. Stage: Early start-upThe Raise: Friends and Family Angel investors, ~ 400KAdditional thoughts: Raising money and executing the concept for my start up are two incredibly complicated things to balance. As a first-time entrepreneur, I am still educating myself about the best methods for both actions. I’ve found the Seattle VC and entrepreneur community extremely supportive.

Villette NolonCompany:HomeSavviMission: To provide the most informative, useful and inspiring resource for home improvement, bar none.Product: A rich website that gives homeowners a Savvi Binder along with the tools, inspiration and high quality local resources to manage their remodel project efficiently. Our website is different because we create an open community of resources that includes professionals, retailers, product manufacturers, and homeowners. Stage: Early – just launched our service in Seattle on March 11, 2008. We’re getting great results already! The Raise: Mostly from my piggy bank, and a few other sophisticated investors. Can’t reveal how much at this point. Additional Thoughts: I love being an entrepreneur in Seattle. It’s a great environment, and I’ve been astounded at the amount of help that I’ve gotten from others, including other entrepreneurs, advisors and partners. Raising money is hard, of course, but a good past track record of success helps. It’s all part of the adventure of being in business. There is nothing else I’d rather be doing.

Who’d I miss? I know there must be more out there, but with a 3 day spamming of everyone I know, this is all that turned up. They’re amazing, every one of them, but surely there are more….. We can’t be THIS MUCH of a minority? Can we?

Use the email link below to send me a note if you want to be included in this list, I’ll re-do the list as often as necessary!… And of course, you can always comment…..
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Alyssa Royse is in the labor and delivery stage of her first startup, Just Cause It, and shares silly stories at Pregnant With Startup, along with her other cool chick starterupper friends.